Page 66 of Sapphire Seas

I remembered.

Chapter Twenty-One

Caspian

“Quint, Torin and Caro left this morning for the island you said you’d heard the voices at, Kes,” Mattias said as we sat down to breakfast. “Odem has opted to stay at the compound until after you’ve both delivered. He’ll take Caro’s Dragon City patrol shift.”

Uncle Odem had quite a, how should I put it, mid-wife aura about him. The closer Kes and I got to our due date, the more he hovered. Not annoyingly or anything like that, but his he was definitely present more.

“Odem has been around for all the dragonets births,” Mattias shook his head. “At first, I didn’t think anything about it but now it’s actually quite maternal? Paternal? Not sure what to call it but he’s a calming presence in the wake of the labor storms.”

The closer we got, the more nervous Mattias was. Which, I understood. Two mates in labor at the same time was a lot for anyone to handle.

“What’s got you thinking so hard over there, Caspian?” Mattias asked.

“Just wondering if we’re really ready?” We had better be because the cramping in my lower back was quite alarming. And uncomfortable. “I need to stand.”

Mattias bolted upright while poor Kes hobbled to his feet.

“Is it?” Kes’ eye widened. “Oh crap.”

I swear it wasn’t two seconds later when Odem appeared, rubbing his hands together. “It’s showtime, gentlemen.”

Mattias tapped away on his phone. “Raven will be here soon. Odem, you take Caspian and I’ll take Kes.”

“Wait,” Kes held his hand up. “What makes you think I’m labor?”

“One,” Mattias held up a finger, “I can feel your discomfort through our connection. And two, I had a feeling it would happen like this.”

“What…” this cramp took my breath away. “Whoa, um, yeah. I’ll take one of you up on a ride to the nest.”

“On it!” Odem scooped me up and off we went. For being as big as they were, these brothers moved like the wind.

Mattias carrying Kes came in right behind us. As soon as they set us down, Kes and I migrated toward each other. Hands firmly gripped as we rode out each contraction.

“I’ll cover the nest with the plastic while you let Raven in,” Odem said.

“My loves, I’ll be right back.” Mattias kissed our foreheads then went to get our beloved High Priestess.

Fast.

Fast.

“Fast!” Kes and I screamed at the same time. Mattias flinched, then took off at a run.

Odem chuckled, and shook his head. “You omegas are amazing. Scary, but amazing.”

Kes and I paced hand in hand. The normally calming presence we felt inside this space was anything but right now. I didn’t want to stand or sit, and sure as heck didn’t feel like laying down. Nothing was comfortable.

“Raven!” I bellowed through a contraction as she stepped inside the room. “I’m worried about the Seadragonets.” The eggs will be fine and will continue to grow inside their shells. But what would happen with the other two?

“Can you both lie down so I can examine you, please?” Scooped up again, Mattias and Odem gently laid us atop the plastic that now covered the nest we so carefully prepared for this. Mattias removed our clothing while Raven ran her hands over us, hovering just above our flesh. “All six are perfectly healthy and right where they should be given your pregnancy timelines. The Seadragon twins are small but will continue to grow once the other two eggs are out, just as nature intended.”

Okay. Okay. This was good.

“Now, let’s get you both as comfortable as you can be. You’re in for a long journey.” Not so comforting words from Raven. Sensing our frustration, Odem turned on the television Mattias had installed for us. I wished I could say it helped, and I guess between contractions it did, until they worsened. Then there wasn’t a dancing yellow sponge in the world that could help us.

The girls had gone silent, my nerves already on edge, this only made it worse. Girls, Daddy needs to know you’re okay.